A Plain and Simple Christmas: A Novella

A quick read, this novella left me with a lot of problems. I didn't care for most of the characters, felt that very little happened overall, and found the plot to be all too predictable.

I'll start with that last one first, because the synopsis for this book literally says that this story is "an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next...right to the very last page." That is a tall order for any story, be it book, movie, or television show. Christmas stories especially tend to be a bit more predictable, generally speaking, because we expect them to end on a good note. And this book in particular...well, I can't really think of anything that happened that I couldn't predict. Maybe one thing:

Though Anna Mae is show more the one wishing for a family Christmas, I'd say Kathryn really becomes the main character, as she was Anna Mae's contact in the Amish community, and her partner-in-crime, so to speak. Not that there was anything criminal about it. And in fact, I have to go on a tangent here and explain that I know little to nothing about Amish ways, but this book eventually explained that those who are shunned were, indeed, allowed to visit, but simply had to stay apart from the others during meals and church services. Yet Anna Mae's dad, bishop of the community, treated her as if shunning meant she didn't exist at all. It was harsh and yet explained and dissolved all too easily.

Now back to Kathryn...she grated on my nerves. For one thing, the narration tells us that she's not a proud person, but we sure do see a lot of her thinking how Anna Mae's family will have her to thank for their reunion. Plus, her husband--Anna Mae's brother--insists that she not bring Anna Mae there for Christmas for various legitimate reasons, but she does it anyway, betraying his trust and involving other family members, including her own daughter. For a Christian family, and moreso, one where it's clear the man is usually the head of the household, it really bugged me that in the end, she was seen to be right, and there were no real consequences to their relationship. I also disliked Anna Mae's father and strongly disagreed with some of his beliefs and traditions.

And finally, what made this short novel really drag on for me was that everything that happened in the book was basically repeated. By this I mean that we'd see something happen, and then the next scene would be a character recounting what had just happened for another character. But where most of us would condense that with a line like, "She explained the events to her mother," we see the entire conversation rehashing the event we'd just seen happen. This happened multiple times, which led me to start scanning to get through it more quickly.

I know that Amish fiction is an entire sub-genre within the genre of Christian fiction, and I've wondered what the appeal is for a long time. I realize that this might not have been the example to base my opinion on, but there were some things that came up that weren't part of what I didn't like about this particular book that lead me to think it won't be my cup of tea as a whole. I don't really think I could recommend this book to readers of Amish fiction either though. It just didn't have much substance. show less

Annie Mae knew when she married Kellan McDonough, a non-Amish, that she would be shunned by her Amish family. She loves Kellan and has built a happy life with him, but it has been three years and she misses her family, especially now that she is pregnant and wants her baby to know his grandparents. Christmas is coming, and she longs to spend the holiday with her family. Christmas can be a time of miracles - will there be a miracle for Anna Mae and her family?

"A Plain and Simple Christmas" is a heartwarming story set in the Amish community. Despite the title, there is nothing simple about the story. People who marry outside the Amish faith are shunned by the family and Anna's struggle to reunite with her family is heartbreaking at times. show more Author Amy Clipston does an excellent job of showing how hard shunning can be on families, both for those shunned and those doing the shunning. Clipston treats the subject sensitively neither condemning nor condoning it - it is simply part of the Amish faith, which is how she treats it. All of the characters are strong, and it is interesting to watch the clash of wills among these characters who love each other despite what has happened. Besides the shunning, Clipston does a nice job of showing Amish life and explaining how they celebrate Christmas. I love Christmas and reading books set at Christmas time and while this book does fall back on the well-worn plot of a very pregnant woman who may or may not give birth at Christmas time, I still enjoyed reading it.

"A Plain and Simple Christmas" is a nicely done novella set in the Amish community. show less

Okay. Can I just say that I REALLY, REALLY want to spend Christmas in Lancaster?! Amy Clipston is a fantastic author of Amish novels and never disappoints with her ability to use wonderful detail and description, leaving her readers thirsty for more of her novels! When I FINALLY (yes, FINALLY...I waited what felt like YEARS for this amazing little book ;-)!) received this book, I couldn't WAIT to read it! The is just adorable....plain and simple-PERFECT for the story!

When you open A Plain and Simple Christmas, you're instantly transported to Maryland, where we meet Anna Mae, a young, shunned Amish mother-to-be, and her English husband, Kellan. As I started reading Anna Mae's story, I could feel her emotional struggles of missing her show more Amish family at a time of year that's meant to be celebrated and shared with family. She really worked her way into my heart! So, what's to happen when she enlists the help of her Amish sister-in-law, Kathryn with making a way for her and Kellan to visit for Christmas? And will another Christmas birth bring peace and forgiveness???

I absolutely LOVED this little book. I felt so much a part of this story....helping Kathryn bring Anna Mae and Kellan home for Christmas and right beside Anna Mae, feeling her emotions and thoughts as if they were my own. I was in praying mode all through this book!

Amy did a wonderful job with this little book! She kept us right in line with her Kauffman Amish Bakery series by using sweet Kathryn and her family in this book,too. That being said, though, you wouldn't HAVE to read this with the series (though I always think it's best to read the entire series with the branch offs). It would make the PERFECT Christmas gift for any book lover or Amish lover in your life. The message in this 5 star little book, of family,forgiveness and God's tender love is phenomenal and gripping. This is definitely a keeper and high on my Christmas book recommendation list!

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan Publishing Company* show less

It’s been four years since Anna Mae left her Amish community to become English and marry Kellan. Now expecting their first child, she longs to return home for Christmas. However, being shunned, she knows she may not be welcome, especially by her father, a strict bishop. How author Amy Clipston handles this difficult situation in which two different lifestyles clash makes for some interesting reading. Anna Mae’s sister-in-law has much compassion and love for Anna, and commits herself to healing the rift in the family, even if it means going against the wishes of her husband and his father. Well-developed characters round out this enjoyable Christmas tale.

A delicate story of forgiveness and the vital importance thereof, A Plain & Simple Christmas uncovers the emotional struggles of a woman reaching out and attempting to reconnect with her past Amish roots that she left three years prior. Romance, friendship and family endearments are the pillars of this beautiful Christian tale, with forgiveness at the heart of it all.

The development and liveliness of the characters and ambiance are marvelous for such a briefly composed story. Henry Beiler's impending humility and the gentle charm of Kellan McDonough are quite enjoyable. The breathtaking landscape of Lancaster, Pennsylvania at Christmas, comes alive through the escalating snow storm. It is especially engaging to learn about the Amish show more holiday traditions like the Christmas table and delectable food. From everyday traits such as the phone shanty to gas lanterns, all of the serene simplicities of the Amish lifestyle are alluringly detailed.

Within the pages of this precious cover, is a quaint little read that leaves you all warm and toasty inside. A glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch is provided at the beginning as well a preliminary note from Amy Clipston highlighting her trustworthy license to Amish knowledge. The small book concludes with Discussion Questions and a lovely little treat: a Kauffman Amish Bakery recipe for Fruit Cake.

A Plain & Simple Christmas permeates the imagination allowing the reader to remain within its realm in between reads, yearning to return to its enchantment and, though delightfully satisfied in the end, wishing there was more. This novella is the most adorable little read. Along with the Christmas decorations and other books of Yuletide, this will be an excellent gem to be brought out once a year. Read this by a fire, the window revealing falling snow, a quiet winter's night, trains howling in the far distance, or by the light of the Christmas tree. show less

I will admit before I started reading this book, I was very wary about it. I had read Clipston's first Amish book last year and I did not like it at all. In fact, I had major problems with it and swore that I would never read another of her books again. Then I saw that she had written a Christmas novella and I'm a sucker for Christmas books. So I picked up this books with very low expectations and was thinking that I would find myself being very disgruntled again. Therefore it was a complete shock to find that not only was the story done very well but that I found myself enjoying the book very much.

The story deals with a couple with the wife being ex-Amish. Anna Mae left her Amish community and family after she fell in love with Kellan. show more Because of this, she had been shunned by her family. Two years later, she's pregnant with their first child and missing her family dreadfully. Plans are made to go back and visit them but there's a lot of trepidation and tension. Anna Mae's family could completely reject her and her husband. This whole scenario is very interesting to me. Anna Mae has no intention of returning to the Amish faith yet she still wants to reconnect with her family. Kellan brings up a very good point of asking why they are shunning her when she's not only a faithful Christian but she's married to a Christian as well. While the whole thing deals with tradition and custom, it's a very legit question because as true Christians they really shouldn't be doing it at all.

The only over dramatic part was that I knew with Anna Mae being so pregnant at the time of the visit that her having the baby not in a hospital was bound to happen. She just kept ignoring all the signs that she was about to go into labor and of course there would be a snowstorm during the climax scene. Nothing wrong with it but I could see this coming miles away. A bit predictable but nothing completely out of the ordinary.

Overall, I will have to say that I did enjoy this story. Beliefs are challenged but also allowing for both sides to come to a truce with each other. I really liked all the characters especially Kellan (especially because he never gave in to become Amish which I was dreadfully afraid he was going to by the end of the book just to be with Anna Me). The best part of this for me was that even though Anna Mae respects her parents and their beliefs, she has chosen a life for herself and chooses to stay with her husband and make a family together instead of going back to her childhood home. This was a really nice Christmas story as well. In short, it has made me think twice before banishing an author from my library again. At the least, I'll give the author a second try because like Amy Clipston, they might surprise me on the second go round. show less

Three years ago Anna Mae married Englischer Kellen McDonough, resulting in her shunning. Now expecting her first child, Anna Mae wants to reunite with her family to bring healing and so the boppli will know her parents. She enlists the help of her sister-in-law Kathryn to arrange the visit. Although a remark by her mother-in-law makes Kathryn certain it is God's will, her husband David is not so certain. David and Anna Mae's father Henry serves as bishop to the Amish community, and his heart seems hardened. Although the doctor said travel was fine, Kellan asks Anna Mae to think twice about the visit because of the approaching due date and concern for her should things not go well. Will the family reunite and heal, or will they continue show more to hold Anna Mae at a distance? I enjoyed this in the audiobook format. Clipston's feel-good Christmas story features characters from her Kauffman Amish bakery series which I have not read yet but plan to enjoy in the future. show less